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Isabella’s First Communion

Isabella’s First Communion

Bella receives Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, for the first time.
Bella receives Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, for the first time.

Today Isabella made her first holy communion.

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While waiting for everyone to be ready to go, Bella found a seat in a sunbeam. She made a perfect picture.

It was an absolutely beautiful day.

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Bella looks pensive thinking about the day.

Last night as I was tucking her in Isabella said, “I’m just so overwhelmed thinking about it all!” She wasn’t quite sure she wanted the day to come, though she was also quite excited.

Sophie admires Bella's new crucifix.
Sophie admires Bella’s new crucifix.

Sophie was also very excited. She kept exclaiming about what an amazing day it was, how beautiful Bella looked. You’d almost have thought it was Sophie’s big day.

Her dress and veil borrowed from one of her Campbell cousins, who wore it on their first communions. Or another way of thinking of it, they were provided by her godparents, Dom’s sister Evelyn and her husband Pete. (My mother-in-law just reminded me that the dress belonged originally to Dom’s older sister, Francesca. But Evy bought the veil to match the dress.)

Last night her godfather, my brother-in-law Pete wrote on Facebook: “Big day tomorrow. It’s Super Sunday… By super, we mean our goddaughter Bella receives her First Holy Communion. Touchdown!” I am so blessed to be a part of Dom’s awesome family.

Photo bomb by Anthony. What little brothers are for.
Photo bomb by Anthony. What little brothers are for.

I was really tired this morning after Anthony woke me up half a dozen times. He kept moving back and forth from his bed to the recliner and then back to his bed and back to the recliner again. I think he had an ear ache, but he also said his back hurt and his bottom hurt, so who knows. Anyway, I confess I dozed off during the homily– Bella elbowed me awake at one point– but I loved the bit about how Father Currie’s mother, when asked about parenthood by another of her sons who was about to be married replied, “You don’t belong to me.” She went on to explain that her children are gifts from God. Oh so very true. On this day when we remember how Mary and Joseph brought their firstborn child to the Temple to present him to God, I bring my firstborn to the Church and God presents Himself to her.

Sisters. (Bella caught mid sneeze)
Sisters. (Bella caught mid sneeze)
I love the look on Sophie's face here.
I love the look on Sophie’s face here.

She isn’t mine. God has committed her to my charge to bring her up for Him and to prepare her for eternal life. She is His. I pray every day that He gives me grace, strength, wisdom, judgment for this most sacred duty of guiding Bella and all of them toward an eternal union with Hm. A lovely meditation for this lovely feast, this beautiful celebration of a milestone in my little girl’s life.

Bella poses with Father Currie
Bella poses with Father Currie

Father Currie also grabbed Lucia, his favorite baby, and walked around with her as he meditated on Simeon holding the baby Jesus. Lucy slept through the whole thing. Every time he holds her, I melt. You know a man is a good priest when he’d make an awesome father.

Bella shows Ben her new crucifix. She picked out a lovely little silver one with a gold corpus.
Bella shows Ben her new crucifix. She picked out a lovely little silver one with a gold corpus.

Anyway, Bella’s communion was beautiful. We took up the gifts and she was poised and knew exactly what to do. She was very pleased to go up all by herself– she didn’t expect that because I’d sort of forgotten to tell her. And no my eyes were not completely dry.

Bella shows off her new crucifix.
Bella shows off her new crucifix.

We got Isabella a crucifix and a rosary book for her special day. I let her pick out the ones she wanted, so they weren’t a surprise. I guess we’re not really that into surprises. She picked out a lovely little silver crucifix with a gold corpus. And a scriptural rosary book with black and white pictures. I asked if she didn’t want one with colored pictures and she said it would be too distracting. She doesn’t read well enough yet to decipher the prayers, but she knows her Our Father and Hail Mary and Glory Be and can do the mysteries by looking at the pictures, so she’s pretty set for now.

My sister got Bella a beautiful St Isabella medal. I’m still super excited about this because St Isabella medals didn’t exist at Catholic shops when I was younger. And it’s probably meant to be Isabella of Portugal, but she’s got a crown and could just as easily be (Blessed) Isabella of France.

Family portrait minus Ben, who was moaning on the floor at my feet.
Family portrait minus Ben, who was moaning on the floor at my feet.

Bella also got nice gifts from all the relatives. My parents sent a set with a missal, rosary, satin handbag, scapular, bookmark, and pin. Her godparents gave her an olive wood cross from the Holy Land. Other aunts and uncles gave her a cross-shaped box and a statue of a kneeling girl in a communion dress. And I think there were some other things too, but I was making veggie dip while Bella was opening the presents.

Family photo outtake-- Ben refused to stand up and be in the photo and so is on the floor at my feet. Dom's expression says it all.
Family photo outtake– Ben refused to stand up and be in the photo and so is on the floor at my feet. Dom’s expression says it all.

We had a lovely party afterward. Cousins and cousins and cousins, though by no means all of them. Still there were sixteen children between the ages of thirteen and one month old. It really was a joy to see Bella running and playing with them. And at one point I realized with a bit of surprise that she’s actually one of the “big kids” now. While the littlest ones toddled about and played on their own she was throwing snowballs with the older boys and girls.

Ben admires the cake.
Ben admires the cake.
A perfect cake with purple flowers and green vines.
A perfect cake with purple flowers and green vines.

And it was a joy to talk with everyone. To remember what a beautiful family I married into, how blessed I am to have wonderful brothers- and sisters-in-law to help us raise our children well. I really love spending time with all of them. And I was just a little bit sad at all the relatives who couldn’t be with us. Especially that none of the grandparents could be here.

Sophie eats salami and admires the spread of food.
Sophie eats salami and admires the spread of food.
Bella's one request for today was a deli platter. So I obliged. She made herself an awesome sandwich.
Bella’s one request for today was a deli platter. So I obliged. She made herself an awesome sandwich.
Family. Nothing better.
Family. Nothing better.
Like father, like son. Dom enjoys a Spencer ale and Anthony enjoys the company.
Like father, like son. Dom enjoys a Spencer ale and Anthony enjoys the company.
Bella with her godparents, Peter and Evelyn.
Bella with her godparents, Peter and Evelyn.

After all her cousins left, Bella said, “I just wish this day would never end!” Sophie echoed the sentiment, saying that this was the most special day because Bella was so beautiful and it was so wonderful to have everyone here. And what a shame it was Bella had to change out of her beautiful dress. Oh Sophie was all about the beautiful dress, but in a beautiful way that only thought of Bella and never of herself.

Bella is ready to play outside some more after all the cousins have gone home.
Bella is ready to play outside some more after all the cousins have gone home.
Lu cuddles with Auntie Tree. She's finally warmed up to this strange auntie.
Lu cuddles with Auntie Tree. She’s finally warmed up to this strange auntie.

Thanks be to God for this joyful and blessed day.

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10 comments
    • Thanks, Charlotte.
      Credit for the mantilla and dress go to Bella’s awesome godmother, Dom’s sister Evelyn. She got them for my niece’s first communion and I’m so happy she let Bella borrow them. So much more classic than anything we saw in the shop.

      • I just let Melanie know that my mom told me the dress and veil were originally my older sister’s and thus almost 50 years old.

        Dom

      • My mother-in-law reminds me of what I’d forgotten. The dress originally belonged to Dom’s older sister, Francesca. So it’s way vintage.

        Evy bought the veil to match it. I think she found it online. Maybe even at the same place I got my wedding veil? I can’t recall.

  • Oh my, how lovely she looks, and how wonderful is her sister’s joy for her big day! If she doesn’t appreciate it now, someday Bella will understand how amazing and special it is to have received her First Holy Communion on the Feast of the Presentation and Candlemas Day. What a blessing she’ll always be able to treasure. Congratulations!
    My prayers are with you all today.

  • Beautiful! Congratulations to Bella!

    (PS Melanie, thank you for not including the slideshow photos in this post: they completely hang up the ipad, and with all the jumping around i can’t find the text of the post …).

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